College football: Notre Dame scouting report
Notre Dame (1-2) at Pittsburgh (2-1)
When: 11:07 a.m. at Heinz Field
TV: ABC
Radio: WLS 890-AM
Series: Notre Dame leads 45-20-1.
Coaches: Brian Kelly (9-7, second year at ND; 180-64-2 overall); Todd Graham (2-1, first year at Pitt; 45-24 overall)
Players to watch: Senior WR Michael Floyd ranks fourth nationally in catches (31) and receiving yardage (397). If Floyd continues to average 10.3 catches per game — and Notre Dame makes a bowl appearance — he’ll finish with 305 career grabs. That would tie for third place in NCAA history. Using the same presumptions with his 132.3 receiving yards per game, Floyd would finish his career third all-time with 4,259 yards. Senior CB Robert Blanton, who returned an INT 82 yards last week against Michigan State, leads the Irish in INTs (2), TFLs (4) and sacks (1).
Pittsburgh junior RB Ray Graham entered last year’s Notre Dame game fresh from a 277-yard, 3-TD effort against FIU. Graham managed just 44 yards in 8 carries against the Irish and never hit 100 yards again until this year’s opener. He ranks fifth nationally with 139.7 rushing yards per game and owns 6 TDs as well. Ex-Illinois TE Hubie Graham has 11 catches for 148 yards. Pitt QB Tino Sunseri hasn’t been special (60 of 96 for 658 yards, 3 TDs and 4 INT).
The skinny: New Pittsburgh coach Todd Graham led Tulsa to a 28-27 win at Notre Dame last Oct. 30. His squad finished sixth nationally in scoring last year (41.4 ppg) and Graham is trying to install his uptempo, point-a-minute style at Pitt. That didn’t work out so well last week when the Panthers snatched defeat from the jaws of victory at Iowa by surrendering 21 unanswered points in the last 10 minutes. The Panthers need to pass the ball better against Notre Dame in order to pull off its fourth win in this rivalry’s last six games. The Irish rank 30th nationally in rush defense (89.7 ypg).
Fast fact: Notre Dame continues to rank last out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in turnover margin (minus-8). Pittsburgh is only 15 spots better at minus-4.
— Lindsey Willhite